It is becoming apparent that the DOJ is going to require all businesses to be accessible to WCAG standards.
On May 8, 2024, the Justice Department Secures Agreement with Springfield Clinic to Make its Online Services Accessible for People with Disabilities.
The Springfield Clinic is a private medical practice and is now required by the DOJ to make its “website, patient portals, and mobile applications accessible for patients with visual and manual impairments” to WCAG 2.2 AA standards. A complaint was filed against the Springfield Clinic “alleging that a patient with a visual impairment was unable to access their medical information online or pay a bill.”
Skip The Part About Being Sued
Approximately 65% of the companies that come to Access Design Studio for remediation of their website (making it ADA compliant accessible) are currently being sued or have been threatened with a lawsuit. They are stressed and facing large financial penalties and lawyers’ fees. Given that the DOJ is moving toward requiring WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility for all businesses, I suggest skipping that part about being sued. Instead, be proactive about getting your website accessible and reap the benefits now.
